Stanford University was founded over one hundred years ago by a very wealthy couple who had lost their son as a teenager. There is a incredibly beautiful chapel on the campus that was built at the direction of the wife after her husband died.

My attention was caught by the inscription on the dedication plaque in the chapel wall. It says “To the glory of God and in loving memory of her husband.” I suppose this is not a surprising statement on a chapel dedication, but the simplicity of dedicating the amazing facility that was painstakingly constructed at a tremendous cost, “to the glory of God,” made me think about the things we all work on in our lives.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

We should all take a moment when we are starting or finishing a project, goal, or objective, and dedicate these things “to the glory of God,” which is why we are here.

Dear Lord, as you tell us in Isaiah 43:7, we were made for your glory. Help us remember to bring glory to you in all that we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The disciples and early Christians in the Bible often greeted each other with the words “Peace be with you.” What is the significance of them wishing each other “peace?”

Peace is contentment, tranquility; The absence of fear, worry, want, anger, and frustration. Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, and He tells his disciples in John 14:27, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart!”

We can have the peace he offers if we keep our focus on him and not our problems and the things that take away our peace.

Isaiah writes in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

Dear Lord, help us keep our thoughts and trust on you so that we may have your perfect peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Here is a question to ponder.

Which of the 10 commandments direct us to give money to our churches and support charitable causes?

The “10 commandments” written in Exodus 20, and Deuteronomy 5 simplified in my words are: put all your trust in God and don’t make other things more important than Him, show respect for God’s name, go to church, respect and honor your parents and authorities; Don’t murder, commit sexual sins, steal, lie, or desire something so much that you would do wrong to get it.

So like me, you probably would consider the first commandment, “Have no other Gods before me” as the reason we tithe, and Also, Jesus’ direction in Matthew 22:39 “Love your neighbor as yourself” as the reason for charity.

So the obedience we show by giving to our church or to charitable causes is to demonstrate that the money is not our God.

In the account of the Rich Young Man in Matthew 10:17-28, the man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, after explaining that he has followed all the commandments. Jesus says “sell all your possessions, give to the poor and follow me.” Is selling his possessions and giving to the poor going to bring him eternal life? No, his problem was that the possessions were more important to him that Jesus. How about us?

Dear Lord, thank you for all the blessings and things we have, help us remember that they will not save or protect us, they are not the priority, they are gifts you have given us to do your will. Thank you that we know your love for us is what gives us protection and grants us eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We are all born to our two parents, we don’t choose them, they made us. Just because we are born to our parents however doesn’t mean that they are going to like everything we do. In fact they may not be very happy with some of the things we do.

This is very much like our relationship with God. John 1:11 says, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” and the classic verse Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

God chooses us, like our parents.

Also like our parents, however, after being “part of the family,” there are behaviors that God likes and those he doesn’t. Jesus said, in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Just like parents expecting proper behavior, God expects us to do what he desires, and what he desires is to love him, and love our neighbor. He has given us additional guidance through our consciences. Romans 2:15 says, “They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.”

In our hearts, we all know what is right and wrong.

Dear Lord, There is no greater gift, whether we all recognize it or not, than being accepted as your child and saved eternally. Help us take that as the starting point to then live lives that will bring glory to you, and “make you proud.” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I believe that most of the challenges we face in life are temptations to do things we know we should not be doing. Resisting some of these temptations is often just a matter of commitment, self discipline, and habit, such as using foul language, lying, gossiping, etc. Some temptations, however, cannot be overcome with our own strength. Things like the many addictions that are often more than people can overcome on their own. I think in many of the cases of addiction, it is not possible to overcome without God’s help.

We stand in the checkout line at the store and see the tabloids telling about the continuous relapses of addictions many celebrities deal with, and many of us have our own friends and loved ones who battle with addictions, never seaming to be able to overcome. I believe in order to overcome these challenges; they must have faith in God and His power.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

These forces are stronger than us on our own, but as John writes in 1 John 4:4, “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”

With God’s spirit in us we can overcome the forces that pull us toward these evil temptations.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us your Spirit to teach us and give us strength. Help us rely on you and your spirit to overcome temptation and live lives that glorify you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.